Here Come the Brides

A few days ago I went to adoration, wearing my veil like I always do, when I don’t forget to switch it from my backpack to purse or vice versa. The struggles we Catholic college students undergo are trying. The next day as I was thinking about the last visit, I questioned myself, “Why do I really wear a veil?” I’ve been asked this before, and it seemed like a simple question with the usual answers:

Out of respect for the True Presence. 
As an inner and outer act of humility before God.
It’s scriptural.
As a reminder that mass is sacred.
It helps to focus on mass and prayer.
Simply because I want to.

So on and so forth. 

Some time ago I wrote a post about why I veil. Two actually. This third post is making the topic into a trifecta, it’ll probably be the last time I talk about it. The reasons listed above are all legitimate and valid reasons to wear a veil, but I felt there had to be more to this habit of mine. I’m pesky like that, I always think there has to be more than what’s already on the surface. I remembered what my friend once said to me; approaching Christ to receive Him in Holy Communion is like a bride approaching her spouse at the altar. What do brides wear? 

Veils. 

The Catholic Church is referred to as the Bride of Christ, with Christ as the Bridegroom.
In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul wrote, “Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord: because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the savior of his body. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church, and delivered himself up for it: that he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life: that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.” (5:22-28) 

This passage is a beautiful example of what a true marriage should look like; reflecting the relationship between Christ and us, his bride the Church. Especially now that Lent has passed, we were and are reminded just how perfectly Christ delivered Himself up for the Church, by His Passion and death. Allowing Himself to be utterly destroyed, shedding every last drop of His Precious Blood, for the sake of sanctifying and cleansing us, His bride. In the same way, husbands are called to die to themselves in order to sanctify their wives and make them holy, while wives must imitate the Church by being subject to their husbands, in order to bring each other to Heaven. That being said, marriage definitely is not for the weak. Neither is Catholicism, since practicing sacrificial love is always part of the package, wed or not. The formula of love is pretty important, and like Matt Fradd said, if we don’t get love right, we won’t get life right. Simple as that. 

Where does the veil come in? Though I’m not sacramentally married, it doesn’t matter because when I go up to receive Christ in Communion, in a way I become a bride to Him, as all women do. I am His and He is mine. It’s only fitting that brides wear veils as they approach their spouses at the altar, as they prepare to give themselves, and vice versa. We give our imperfect selves to Christ, and He in turn, gives us His perfect self. In a sense, women are representing the union of Christ and His bride, the Church, who we all are.

Within the Church we see, hear, taste, smell and touch. It’s all very sensual, not allowing our faith to just be some fantastical idea that’s up in the clouds, cold, unseen and untouchable. So we have instruments like the rosary, incense, scapular, candles, vestments, holy water, and the veil, that bridge the link between Heaven and earth. The Eucharist is the most precious of all, Christ’s perfect gift of Himself to us.

I don’t veil to be better than anyone, or to draw attention to myself, or even for some personal agenda. At the end of it all, I wear my veil without shame because I love Christ, imperfect as that love may be. It will only be through humility, constant purification and aid from the Blessed Mother, that not only myself, but all of us, can come to love Christ perfectly, as He loved us… His bride the Church. 

Fasting for Peace: because Pope Francis said so

As many of you know, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has declared tomorrow (September 7th) as a day of fasting and prayer, for peace in Syria. I am an advocate of peace through strength, however, this is not a war that we Americans should be involved in, but this isn't a political post, so I will leave it at that. 

Fasting is becoming a lost treasure in the Church, and it is Divine Providence that Pope Francis is shifting attention to it*. To fast is to deny the body of what it desires, such as eating for example, and through this we are are doing many things. Not only are we disciplining our bodily senses, but also detaching our soul from the bodily senses, so that it may be free to embrace a higher spirituality.

Is fasting fun? No. Is it easy? No. Should we complain during fasts? Even bigger no. To grumble and gripe while fasting is a sure-sign that the individual is still very attached to their bodily senses. To have such an attitude is to also lose sight of the bigger picture, because we should be focusing on the interior life, instead of the discomforts of the exterior senses. 

 So instead of fasting like this...

"And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head and wash thy face; that thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father Who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee." Matt. 6:16-18 (DR)

   

                         We should be fasting something like this....

So, let us embrace tomorrows fast with a spirit of willingness to suffer, for the sake of peace and glory to God the Father.

 "Besides the ordinary effect of fasting in raising the mind, subduing the flesh, confirming goodness, and obtaining a heavenly reward, it is also a great matter to be able to control greediness, and to keep the sensual appetites and the whole body subject to the law of the Spirit; and although we may be able to do but little, the enemy nevertheless stands more in awe of those whom he knows can fast." -St. Francis de Sales

Happy fasting!

Our Lady, Queen of Peace, 
St. Gabriel Possenti,
Mater Dolorosa, ora pro nobis.

-Yvonne Gemma 

*This isn't to say that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI didn't put an emphasis on fasting, which he did strongly during Lent of 2009. 

Et Contristátus Immaculati Cordis Mariae aka the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary

If you haven't noticed already, I like Latin. A lot. But that's not what this post is about today, so let's move along. It would be a shame to end the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus without contemplating its counterpart; the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. The specific devotion to the Alliance of the Two Hearts is particularly special to me. This is the devotion that brought about my reversion. It has and continues to pour out many graces in my life and the lives of the dear people around me; my beloved family, friends and community. 

Since I've saved the best for last, let's move forward to further discover the hidden treasures of this beautiful Heart. The Two Hearts are so unified that they beat as one; nothing can ever separate them. What rings on the Sacred Heart of Jesus also rings on His mother's Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Being the mother of Jesus, His Heart is also hers, as He was formed in her womb, which makes the bond of the Two Hearts even stronger, because it is bonded by divine love and maternal/filial love. 

Not only their joys are shared, but also their pains. The pains which the Sacred Heart endures also affect the Immaculate Heart, as they are one. This is where the Sorrowful aspect comes in. The sword piercing her Immaculate Heart represents the prophecy of Simeon, which is also the first sorrow in the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (My Mater Dolorosa devotion is showing, isn't it?)

"And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed." Luke 2:34, DR

Simeon's prophecy foreshadowed Mother Mary and her Son's future suffering, for the sake of our salvation. For a sword to pierce her inner-most being; her pure and placid soul, her sufferings were to be great indeed. An example of this is during the Passion of Our Lord. While her pains were not physical like His, rather, they afflicted her gentle and ever-compassionate Heart. Since Our Blessed Mother is the epitome of absolute perfection, she is entirely untarnished throughout her whole being. Due to this wonderful work of God, Mother Mary feels and perceives everything much more acutely and powerfully than we ever could, including emotional anguish. She not only experienced deep sorrow in witnessing her only beloved Son suffer, but also to see her God suffering as well. To grasp how truly united the mother and Son are, think of the scourging at the pillar. On her tender Heart, Our Lady felt every single lash and strike that Jesus endured upon His bare flesh. When a mother sees her child suffering, she suffers even more. Regarding this, St. Alphonsus Ligouri says, "Two hung upon one cross." The sword penetrating her Heart not only reveals the suffering foreseen at the prophecy of Simeon, but all of her Seven Sorrows. The devotion to the Immaculate Heart is often combined with the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows. I highly recommend taking up both, as they are recipes for sainthood and true love for Our Lord and Blessed Mother. 

While her Heart is Sorrowful, it is also bears the title of Immaculate. Besides Christ, there has been no other person to walk this earth, who loves as she loves. A perfect love that is pure, compassionate, endless and motherly. Her Immaculate Heart reveals her soul and interior life; like her Son it is also burning with love for us and the sword shows us her sorrows as the thorns reveal His. Her beautiful Heart is crowned in white roses, to expose her complete and total immaculate purity, in all she is and does. When faced with impurities, cling to the Immaculata for protection, she never fails to assist those in who humbly approach her. Not only is her Heart inflamed for love of us, most importantly, it is blazing with motherly love for her Son and a flawless, virginal love for God. With her Heart glowing and burning with perfect love for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, think of how she may also ignite our hearts with love. 

"My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge
and the way that will lead you to God."

As we have seen thus far, Our Lady's Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart is very powerful. During the Fatima apparitions in 1917, after promising to take Jacinta and Francisco to Heaven soon, Our Lady said to Lucia, "Jesus wants to use you to make me known and loved. He wishes to establish the devotion to my Immaculate Heart throughout the world. I promise salvation to whoever embraces it; these souls will be dear to God, like flowers put by me to adorn His throne." Our Lady is inviting us to be her flowers, why not accept the invitation?

While this is the last post related to the Sacred Heart for the month of June, I encourage you to keep a fervent devotion to the Two Hearts throughout the whole year, and better yet, for the rest of your life. This devotion creates saints and brings souls to Heaven. The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus alone is fantastic, but as the saying goes, two is better than one. Especially when Our Blessed Mother is involved. At times devotions can be difficult to keep, but never cease to persevere. In times of trials and tribulations, please remember what Our Lady of Fatima also said, "In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph." 

I hope you all gained many blessings from the month of the Sacred Heart, and as always, you are in my prayers. I will be back soon with more reflections and ramblings on different Catholic-related topics, but for now I'll wait for the Holy Spirit to strike me with inspiration and then stay up very late typing away and making sure that I'm not saying anything heretical, relativistic, fallacious or nonsensical. Oh, the beauty of being confirmed (which was fairly recent, back in April, by the way). Veni Sancte Spiritus... until next time, pax. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us,
Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us,
Mater Dolorosa, ora pro nobis.

-Yvonne Gemma

Promises, lists and more on love

  It feels like forever since I've hit the keyboard. With a marriage recently taking place in my family, finishing up school and life in general, I haven't had time to sit here at my computer desk, with my fingers clicking away on the keys. While I have been a busy bee, I have not forgotten about my little blog. Praise the Lord that I find time at nocturnal hours to type away. In other small news, I am renewing my personal consecration to Papa Joseph through a novena, and it's going wonderfully, Deo gratias. Sorry Future Husband, but this novena is all mine. ;) 

  Moving right along, by taking a look at your calendar, you will see that it is still the month of June. Which means that it's still the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Aside from stating the obvious, today, tonight, this morning, evening, what have you, we will take a look at the 12 promises of the Sacred Heart, as I mentioned in my last post. 
My left-braininess is kicking in, so I must (really) begin with a list. 
Our Lord Jesus Christ, revealed these 12 promises to His faithful servant, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, for those who hold a devotion to His Sacred Heart. 
They are as follows...

First Promise: I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life. 
Second Promise: I will establish peace in their homes.
Third Promise: I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
Fourth Promise: I will be their secure refuge in life and above all, in death.
Fifth Promise: I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
Sixth Promise: Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
Seventh Promise: Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
Eighth Promise: Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfections.
Ninth Promise: I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored.
Tenth Promise: I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
Eleventh Promise: Those who promote this devotion shall have their names written in my heart.
Twelfth Promise: I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

  I don't know about you, but as I read these promises, my single awe-struck thought was this, "Wow."
Before anything else, I would like you to notice the language and words used in these promises. Over and over again, Our Lord uses the words, will, shall and promise. They are simple words, but they are not light or fleeting. Our Lord did not say might, perhaps, or maybe. Not at all. The words He used are strong, affirming and set in stone. By cultivating a devotion to His Sacred Heart, be rest assured that Our Lord is always faithful, keeps His word, and never disappoints those who place their trust in Him. For the skeptics out there, let me just tell you one simple fact. Had it not been for the Sacred Heart of Jesus (and Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary) I can say without a shadow of a doubt, that I would definitely not be where I am today. The thought of continuing my life without the Two Hearts is enough to bring me to tears. If the image of His Heart can revert the lukewarm and miserable sinner that I was, I'm confident that when given the chance He can bring anyone back into His loving embrace. 

  With that being said, let's slide on over to my next train of thought. 
How do we obtain these promises?
The answer is easy. We obtain these promises through love; love for His Sacred Heart. If you look in a dictionary, some of the synonyms for the word "devotion" are, zeal, ardor, love and commitment. How sublime is it of Our gracious Lord to offer these 12 amazing promises to us and in return, He only asks of our unconditional love and devotion to His Sacred Heart. 
Hold on. Unconditional you say? Yes, but let me elaborate.
When you truly love someone you naturally want to forget yourself and give everything to them, even the moon, if it was possible. Our Lord desires us to love Him to the point where we give Him every bit of ourselves, as He did for us during His Passion. To help form a clearer picture, imagine this: you unconditionally love someone totally and completely to the point of dying to yourself, but they only reciprocate a small fraction of that affection. In a sense, that happens to Jesus every single day, and even worse, some souls do not even respond with a fragment of love.
To truly develop a sincere love for the Sacred Heart, let it be motivated by love, and love alone.
This echoes 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, "If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity*, I become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." (D.R edition)
What I am trying to say, with the help of Sacred Scripture, is to love Christ while being inspired and motivated by His Divine love; it is so unfathomably great and endless that the deeper we plunge, the closer He will lead us to Himself, and home... Heaven. 


Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Mater Dolorosa, ora pro nobis,

-Yvonne Gemma 

*charity is a synonym for love